KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – The Ministry of Health has submitted the proposed Compassionate Care Policy to Cabinet for approval.

This was disclosed by Portfolio Minister, Dr Christopher Tufton, who said the initiative forms part of the ministry’s undertaking to improve the quality of customer service delivered at public health institutions.He said a pilot has been implemented at the Kingston Public Hospital, an action plan was being developed for implementation across the four Regional Health Authorities and that a Client Complaints Overseer has been appointed to establish protocols to facilitate submissions for resolving.Tufton indicated that notices will be posted in hospitals, adding that persons can also call the toll-free number 1-888-CALL-MOH or 1-888-225-5664.These engagements, he added, will be supported by a public education campaign spearheaded by the ministry.The Minister was speaking in the 2017/18 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday.Meanwhile, Dr Tufton advised that several features used in the dispensing of medication at DrugServ pharmacies in public health institutions are to be improved during the current fiscal year.These include the drop-off and pick-up service; electronic submission of prescriptions via WhatsApp; and the implementation of an automatic scheduling of drug refills for patients regularly accessing the pharmacies that are operated by the National Health Fund (NHF).Tufton said it was anticipated that improvements to these features will enable them to cover 35 per cent of outpatient services provided.He reassured that based on the restructuring of the DrugServ facilities, as well as implementation of the public-private pharmacy partnership initiative, persons were not expected to be delayed when seeking medical attention or filling prescriptions.